Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity During Staff Dispute and Unauthorized Photography
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to maintain the dignity of a resident when a housekeeper and a CNA engaged in a dispute in front of the resident and his roommate regarding who was responsible for cleaning up feces in the resident's bathroom. The incident was witnessed by both residents, with one reporting feeling embarrassed and down as a result. The housekeeper took multiple photographs of the soiled bathroom to send to her supervisor, further compromising the resident's privacy. The discussion and actions occurred in the presence of the resident, rather than in a private area, and the taking of photographs of the resident's room was not permitted by facility policy. The resident involved had multiple diagnoses, including Parkinson's disease with dyskinesia, unsteadiness, lack of coordination, and was dependent on staff for toilet hygiene and transfers. He was frequently incontinent of urine and occasionally incontinent of bowel, requiring substantial to maximal assistance. The facility's policy required staff to respect residents' privacy and dignity at all times and prohibited sharing health information or taking photographs of residents' rooms without consent. The administrator was unaware of the incident until informed by the surveyor.